Hinkley succeeds Peter Owen who has been promoted to the post of secretary general.

While working for the Cabinet Office, Hinkley was responsible for driving the government’s civil service reform agenda.

Peter Owen said he was delighted to welcome someone of Hinkley’s ‘experience and ability’ to the institute’s senior management.

Hinkley commented: ‘I’m very pleased to be joining the ICAEW at a time when government, ICAEW members and the public are looking to the institute to play a leading role in shaping the new regulatory agenda.’